Multiple fabric feeding



May 1, 1934. M. MCKINLEY MULTIPLE FABRIC FEEDING ts-Sheet Filed Jan. 7, 1928 Mwiw i B M 61mm,

May 1, 1934. MCKINLEY 1,957,050

MULTIPLE FABRIC FEEDING Filed Jan. 7, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 M McKINLEY MULTIPLE FABRIC FEEDING Filed Jan. 7, 1928 May 1, 1934.

May 1, 1934. M. McKINLEY MULTIPLE FABRIC FEEDING Filed Jan. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 M WQWM JL M Patented May 1, 1934 iTi) ST ET @FFEQYE MULTIPLE meme FEEDING Application January 7, 1928, Serial No. 245,249

12 Claims.

This invention relates to fabric feeding.

This invention has utility in the laying and feeding of multiple plies of fabric, especially as flexible or as sleazy, and for progressing such plies.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, with parts broken away, showing an embodiment of the invention in a movable table or support structure; Fig. 1'

is a fragmentary view of the driving gearing;

Fig. 2 is an additional fragmentary view showing portions of the table support with which the extension of Fig. 1 coacts;

Fig. 3 is a partial section on the line III-III,

Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line IV-IV, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line VV, Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line VIVI, Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 7 is a detail view of a roll mounting block in open position;

Fig. 8 is a view of a block of Fig. '7, from the left, and in closed position;

Fig. 9 is a view of an over-head track with a shiftable rack or deck having reserve rolls therewith as a supply;

Fig. 10 is a view on the line X-X, Fig. 9, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 11 is a section on the line XI-XI, Fig. 10, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the shiftable support and rack on a lower track;

Fig. 13 is a section on the line XIIIXIII, Fig. 12, looking in the direction of the arrow;

14 is a fragmentary view in end elevation of the block mounting at the press and the block connection to the support therefrom; and

Fig. 15 is a view in side elevation of the block mounting as shown in Fig. 14.

Press 1 is shown as having block 2 provided with outwardly projecting ledges 3 forming sockets 4 for springs 5. (Fig. 15.) These springs 5 carry yokes 6 mounting rollers '7 movable along track 8 as horizontally extending from the press 1. From adjacent the ledges 3 extend uprights 9 providing adjustable slotted connection 10 through arms 11, pin connections 12, bolts 13, and arms 14 to pan or support 15,- as a primary support extending from the cutting block 2 through the press 1. This pan 15, as extending through the press, has brackets 16 and rollers 17 movable on tracks 18 as an anti-friction mounting for this primary support 15, while the rollers 7 provide a normal anti-friction mounting for the block 2 in its shifting in and out from under the cross head 19 of the press.

As this plunger or press cross head member i9 descends to engage dies 20 and thrust such in cutting action through a plurality of plies 21, the action of this cross head in eifecting movement of the die places load on the cutting block 2 which load is not through the rollers 7 due to the spring mounting of the roller carrying yokes 6 which permit the block 2 to be pressed against the track 8, which track thereby carries the load during the press cutting operation. Upon completion of the cutting operation, the springs 5 between the yokes and block cause the block to be lifted from the track 8 so that such is carried by the rollers. The action of the load at once compresses the springs 5 and thus places the strain on the block upon the rigid frame structure bed of the press 1 or directly upon the rigid track 8 as in the press 1.

As the cross head 19 ascends, the, springs 5 allow the block 2 toalso follow upward to again leave this block in its anti-friction support clear of the bed so that the block as grasped at handle 22 may be pulled from under the plunger 19 to thus withdraw the die 20 and cutstock from under the cross head 19 to permit removal of the cut stock from the die. The dies may then be shifted clear of the block say by a suitable crane or die lifting device 23 as engaging handles 22'. The plurality of plies 21 of material may then be replenished by feeding such through the press 1 over the primary support 15 to protrude onto the block 2 so that the die 20 can be reset thereon.

In this feeding operation of the stock, clutch handle 24, adjacent press operating handle 25, is operated to rock lever 26 and thus throw links 27, angle levers 28, effecting a gripping of the multiple plies 21 and pulling of such plies toward the press 1. 7

This pull up feeding device has a cycle of operations, which, in the movement toward the press 1, effects the gripping pulling, while in the recover movement, the angle levers 28 are rocked clear of gripping position and the stock is accordingly free for a repetition of the cycle of operations. The gripping device may be of the type shown in United States Letters Patent to Zimmerman 1,634,555, Aug. 6, 1912. This pulling up of the multiple ply fabrics by the levers 28 shifts such material along over the support 15 and is the power operation which effects the movement of the block 2 out from under the cross head 19 to get the material, as cut, clear of the die so that the operator may relieve the die of such cut material. This is a use of power for withdrawal operation. With the gripping device released, the handle 22 may be used for pulling the block forward.

To effect additional movement with the support 15, lever 29 is manually operated. There is thus brought about the true feeding operation. This is effective through rod 39 acting on arm 31 of bell crank lever having fulcrum 32 and second arm 33, Fig. 6. This action shifts rod 34 carrying clutch members 35, 36, so that clutch 36 is thrown into connection with clutch member 37. Motor 38 through belt gearing 39 and worm gear speed reduction 40 drives pinion 41. Accordingly, continuously rotating clutch member 3'7 is thus effective through the clutch member 36 splined on shaft 42 to rotate the shaft 42 in a desired direction and thus through bevel gear transmissions 43, 44, operate vertical shafts 45 carrying in their upper portions pinions 46, Fig. 4, in mesh with racks 47 on table 48. Frame 49 is provided with cross bars 50 carrying rollers 51 coacting with tracks 52 for sustaining the table 48. This table 48 is accordingly a shiftable support, main or primary feeding section operable from the manually operated lever 29 for shifting toward the press 1 so that the material may be fed over the auxiliary or secondary feeding section 15 past the press 1 onto the press block 2 in position for resetting the die 20. The underside of this main or primary feed section hereinbefore called the shiftable table 48 is provided with cam 53 (Fig. 3), coacting with upstanding lever 54 (Fig. 4) having fixed fulcrum bearing 55 and extension connection 56 with rod 34. Accordingly, as the advance limit desired is reached, this cam 53, as adjustable in its position along the bottom of the table 48 is eifective for rocking the clutch member 36 clear of the clutch member 3'7 thereby stopping the further progress of the table in the direction of feed toward the press 1.

With the die 20 set at the press now in the desired location on the stock as fed forward of the press and on the block 2, the lever 29 may be rocked in the reverse direction thus to draw the clutch member 35 into mesh driving relation with clutch member 5'7 (Fig. 6), for driving the shaft 42 from the pinion 41 in the reverse direction. This will be effective through the rack and pinion drives 46, 4'7, for retrieving the table 48 in recover travel away from the press 1. The die and material thereon are thus brought under the press.

The lever 54 at this operation of the lever 29, is pulled away from the cam 53. As the limit of recover for the travel of the table 48 is reached, cam 58, as adjustably anchored to the underside of the table 48, engages the upstanding end of the lever 54 and rocks such toward neutral or unclutched position, thereby stopping further recover travel of the table. It is accordingly seen that the lever 29 may not be operated for a repetition of the feeding operation as last occurring due to the holding action of the lever 54. This means that the movements of the table 48, as carrying the flat plies of the fabric, must alternatively move up toward and then from the machine and that for the supplemental feeding relatively to the table 48, the gripping device 28, 27, must be effective at the recession or recover travel position of the table 48 and plies of stock 21, thus bringing the located die 20 under the cross head 19 for a repetition of the cutting cycle of operations by throwing the lever 25.

The frame 49 extends above the table 48 and there provides track 59, 60, for rolls 61, 62, the latter being grooved. These rolls 61, 62, mount truck or carriage 63. This carriage 63 is provided with bearings 64 for detachably mounting bar 65 as carrying roll 66 of fabric say as knit stock or jersey. This stock may be conducted about guides 67, 68, 69, '70, during the manual shifting of the carriage from one end of the track 59, 60, to the other for laying line 71 in positioning in fiat relation one at a time plies 21 of the material on deck 72. This deck '72 comprises a plurality of independent movable sections or strips say of board.

In practice, the truck 63 may lay the desired number of plies of stock, say 24 thicknesses, on the deck section '72 while the press 1 is feeding such previous laid stock from the support 48. As the plies are laid upon the deck '72 and the stock on the table or support 48 has been fed toward the press 1, deck portions 72 may be removed for allowing the plies of the stock, as laid on the deck portion, to be supported by the table 48. The car- Q riage or truck 63 lays this stock flat and smooth on the deck 72 in the superposed relation as guided by stops '73 (Fig. 4).

In positioning this laying of stock from the deck '72 to the table 48, additional guides '74 along the supports 48 determine alignment for one edge of the stack of plies 21. It is accordingly seen that at once a stack of plies of material is worked off the table 48, a reserve stack of plies may be at once placed upon such movable table or support for follow up and thus permitting continuous operation of the press 1 for maximum of output.

Importance attaches to this holding of the stock in fiat relation at all times as well as feeding to the press due to the sleazy character of the knit goods of the jersey type. Any pressing or folding of a plurality of plies of knit goods tends to distort portions thereof so that when assembly of the cut-outs in garments occurs, difficulties arise in having the stock conform to the die patterns therefor. The laying hereof fiat out and straight and then the deposit of the primary layers from the deck to the movable table brings these plies into approximately horizontal relation. In this recession operation, the recover travel of the support 48 avoids any doubling or folding or other distortion of the stock.

The register for the laying of the stock as to the guides '73, 74, may be assisted in the passage over the directing guides from the roll 66 by adjustable marginal clamps comprising blocks '75 with clamping screws '76 (Figs. 4, 5), as assembled on guides '70 in the truck 63.

Frame 49 instead of being provided with rollers 51 for carrying the support 48, is shown in Figs.

9, 10, as provided with rollers 77 coacting with tracks '78, thereby sustaining the frame 49 as a unit to travel toward and from the press 1, as operated by the gearing from the control lever 29. In this movement of the frame, the stock instead of being pre-laid upon a horizontal support, is herein shown as directly fed from the rolls of the fabric. To this end the frame 49 is provided with blocks '79 having hinge block sections 89 and spring thrown catch 81 (Figs. 7, 8) effective. as the block 80 is swung into position opposite the block section 79, for a quick detachable closure in engaging rods 82 of a roll 83 of the fabric.

From each of such rolls 83, as assembled in the frame 49, reaches of the stock extend upward over guides 84 into horizontal support region 85 of the frame 49. In lieu of the frame 49 being overhead carried, such may be carried from below by equipping the frame 49 with rollers 86 operable on lower track 87 (Figs. l2, 13).

In these movable frame structures, instead of lever 54, the rod 34 may be shifted in the automatic stopping through connection with rod 88 as coacting with cams 89, 90, carried by the frame 49 (Fig. 10). The location in the machine for the cutting operation upon the material is the delivery station.

The operation of the ply feeding means is effected after the plies have been laid upon the table or support. In the instance shown in Fig. 3, there is travel of the plies to the left toward the press 1 effected by the gripping means 28 engaging a plurality of plies and moving the plies into and through the press 1. In order that this movement may not place the plies under tension, handle 29 may be shifted so that rod 30 may be effective through the motor 38 in actuating the table 48 for the follow up or shifting of the plies of material into the gripping device or therewith. In the instance shown in Fig. 9 the plurality of plies with their support is shifted toward or with the gripping device 28, in that instead of just the table of support moving, the rack as overhead carried is operated by the rod 30 and its motor 38 to have the travel action which may be succeeded by a pulling oif in the recover and thereby replenishing removal of plies from the table by unrolling sheet stock from the several rolls in the general rack.

Instead of having the rack 49 suspended as in Fig. 9, the rack may be sustained from below and be shifted in like manner by the action of rod 30 in effecting the progress toward or with the gripping members 28 and the recover travel may here, as in the instance of Fig. 9, effect replenishment of the plurality of the plies on the support.

What is claimed and it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A feed advance and recover means comprising first and second sections, section control means for feed advance, and a recover device for locating the material for operation independently of the relative movement of the material as to either section.

2. A feed advance and recover means for a delivery station comprising first and second sections, a pull-up device for material as to the sections, a drive mechanism for bringing the material from the pull-up device with both sections into and beyond delivery station register position, and a recover device for locating the material for operation independently of relative movement of the material as to either section.

3. A machine feed for a plurality of plies of flexible material comprising horizontally extending means for supporting and conducting material to the machine, a pull-up device for progressing material as to the means, and drive mechanism for the means.

4. A machine feed for a plurality of plies of flexible material comprising horizontally extending means for supporting and conducting material to the machine, a pull-up device for progressing material as to the means, and automatic cutting-out drive mechanism for the means.

5. A machine feed for a plurality of plies of flexible material comprising horizontally extending means for supporting and conducting material to the machine, a pull-up device for progressing material as to the means, and automatic cutting-out reversible drive mechanism for the means.

6. In apparatus for feeding a plurality of superimposed plies of strip material to be operated upon by a machine comprising a feed support, a delivery station, a track for the station, rolls for sustaining the station on the track providing an anti-friction carrier for the station as to the support, and means for taking the operation load on the station from the rolls.

'7. In apparatus for feeding a plurality of superimposed plies of strip material to be operated upon by a machine comprising a feed support, a delivery station, a track for the station, rolls for sustaining the station on the track providing an anti-friction carrier for the station, a connection from the station to the support, and yieldable mounting means for the rolls as to the track, whereby the operation load on the station transfers station operation load from the rolls.

8. In apparatus for feeding a plurality of superimposed plies of strip material to be operated upon by a machine comprising a feed support, a delivery station, a track for the station, rolls for sustaining the station on the track providing an anti-friction carrier for the station, a connection from the station to the support, a frame, and bracket means yieldably mounting the rolls for permitting operation load on the station to be taken by the frame independently of through said rolls.

9. In apparatus for feeding a plurality of superimposed plies of strip material to be operated upon by a machine, the combination of horizontal means for supporting the plies in approximately straight line parallel relation, gripping means for pulling the plies as extending from the supporting means, a delivery station, means for reciprocating the supporting means during engagement by the gripping means of the material for shifting the material toward the delivery station, and additional means from the horizontal means supporting the plies against folding during the movement of the means.

it. In apparatus for feeding a plurality of superimposed plies of strip material to be operated upon by a machine, the combination of horizontal supply means for supporting the plies in approximately straight line parallel relation throughout the approximately horizontal multiple ply extent, a delivery station, a feed drive including gripping means for shifting the material through the delivery station, and additional antifriction mounted shiftable means supporting the 130 plies as pulled by the gripping means from the supply means in transit to the delivery station.

11. In apparatus for feeding to a delivery station of a plurality of superimposed plies of flexible strip material to be operated upon by a ma- 135 chine comprising a support for the material embodying a block as a delivery station for the plies, and a mounting for the block permitting the block to shift clear of the machine operating position therefor, the combination of a material 140 feed to the station from the opposite side thereof as to said mounting and including a table for support in parallelism of the plurality of the plies of flexible material throughout the superposed extent of the plies of said material, and a track 145 for assisting the table for travel toward the station in material feeding and away from the station in recover travel for material recession.

12. Apparatus for handling simultaneously a plurality of plies of sheets of sleazy material for 150 sustaining means, and actuating means for efiecting recover travel of the gripping means relatively to the shifted material, said sustaining means extending to be effective throughout the length of the material.

MELVIN MCKINLEY. 

